Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 23, 2025
Aisy now, there, wid that main tack; don't ye see, you spalpeens, that the ship is bearin' up. Man the braces, fore and aft; ease up to leeward and round in to windward as the ship pays off. Well of all, belay, and coil up. Misther Hawkesley, am I to have the pleasure of showin' ye the way on board the hooker yonder?" "Thanks, no, I think not, Costigan," I answered with a laugh.
"N-n-no, I can't say I do, Hawkesley, under her present disguise." "Disguise, my dear sir; she is not disguised at all. That is the pirate-brig which destroyed poor Richards' vessel the Juliet. And yes there can scarcely be a doubt about it she must be the notorious Black Venus of which the Yankee skipper told us." Smellie looked at me in great surprise and perplexity for a moment.
On reaching the ship, however, the opportunity came. As we went up over the side the skipper turned and said: "By the way, Mr Smellie, I hope you and you also, Mr Hawkesley will give me the pleasure of your company to dinner this evening?"
I was sent with a party into Staffordshire, with design to intercept a convoy of stores coming from London, for the use of Sir William Brereton; but they having some notice of the design, stopped, and went out of the road to Burton-upon-Trent, and so I missed them; but that we might not come back quite empty, we attacked Hawkesley House, and took it, where we got good booty, and brought eighty prisoners back to Worcester.
As Armitage again withdrew and Smellie rose to his feet, Captain Vernon turned to me and said: "I am very greatly obliged to you for the zeal and discretion you have manifested in this most delicate matter, Hawkesley; whatever comes of it I shall remember that you have acted throughout to the very best of your ability, not coming to me precipitately with a vague unconnected story, but waiting patiently until you had accumulated a sufficiency of convincing evidence for us to act upon; though, even now we must be very cautious as to what we do.
Here comes Hawkesley; let us see whether his opinion upon the matter coincides with mine. Hawkesley, do you think you ever met either of those men before?" "Yes," I replied unhesitatingly; "unless I am greatly mistaken, the man who was so pertinacious in his attack upon you, and whom I shot, was Senor Madera." "Exactly so," coincided Smellie.
"I think not, sir; though he undoubtedly possesses the acquaintance of a certain Senor Madera, a most suspicious-looking character, whose name I have already mentioned to you by the way, Hawkesley, you were evidently mistaken as to the Josefa belonging to Madera; he was nowhere to be found on board her."
But whatever you do, Hawkesley, maintain a bold front; let him see no sign or trace whatever of weakness or discomposure in you.
Smellie looked at me rather doubtfully for almost a full minute. "I believe you are suffering a great deal of pain, Hawkesley," he said; "but you are a thoroughly plucky fellow; and if you can only keep up until we get clear of this confounded creek I will then relieve you.
The delay may, of course, have afforded them an opportunity to make arrangements for our reception by putting out of sight any " "Any tell-tale evidences of their dishonesty," laughed the first luff. "Really, Hawkesley, I must say I think you are deceiving yourself and worrying yourself unnecessarily.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking